Italian Soccer Fans Celebrate Victory Over Ukraine

It was the result Italy had been waiting for. Three-nil against Ukraine and its place guaranteed at the semi-finals at the World soccer cup championship in Germany. Italians celebrated all night. The next game will not be so easy as they're up against Germany.

Italians planned all night celebrations after their national team beat Ukraine three-nothing (3-0) at the world Soccer championship in Germany. Fans waved Italian flags and cheered as they rode their scooters.

In Rome, like in other cities across the country, soccer-crazy Italians went wild, honking their car horns. Italy had not made into the semi-finals in the last two world soccer cup championships.

Gianluca Zambrotta got things started for the Italians, scoring the first goal for Italy just six minutes into the first half. The second and third goals came in the second half. Both were scored by Luca Toni, who had been criticized for not yet having scored in this championship.

It went well, Toni said, It was important to make it through, and I even scored two goals. Fantastic.

Fans agreed that Gianluca Buffon did some excellent goalkeeping during the game ensuring Ukraine did not score a single goal. Ukraine had been the surprise team to make it to the quarterfinals. But it had little to offer against Italy.

After the final whistle was blown, Italians rejoiced and national coach Marcello Lippi said now Italy is among the top four teams in the world.

But Lippi said that now this is must not be considered a point of arrival, but a starting point.

The coach dedicated the three-nil victory against the Ukraine in Hamburg to former Juventus midfielder Gianluca Pessotto, who is fighting for his life in a Turin hospital after what many believe was attempted suicide. Pessotta fell from the second floor of the club's headquarters on Tuesday and is now in critical condition.

Player Zambrotta said personally it was his Juventus friend Pessotto who gave him the strength. He said he hoped he would make it through.

Italy's victory and qualification for the semifinal was a welcome reprieve for Italy, shaken by a match-fixing scandal at home. Next, Italy faces World Soccer Championship host team Germany on Tuesday in Dortmund, which beat Argentina 4-2 Thursday in a penalty shootout.